After classical piano and cello at school, and some folky guitar afterwards, my big inspiration was hearing Blowzabella in the 1980s. I soon sent off for a melodeon and started playing  English and French tunes at sessions in Bedminster. I learned trad French dancing with the people behind the Grand Bal de Bath, joined Andy Letcher’s French session in Bristol, and eventually asked Jon Swayne to make me some G border pipes.

I now play regularly in the Bath and Bristol French Sessions, and in our weekly pipes trio, where we arrange most of our own music. Some of my melodeon tunes are here: https://www.youtube.com/@jackdiatonique. Info on our Bristol/Bath sessions is here: https://bathfrenchsession.wordpress.com/.